AUCKLAND MAYORAL CONTEST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 19 April 1912, Page 6

AUCKLAND MAYORAL CONTEST.

MR PARR'S CANDIDATURE

(Ujui.tsd Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 18

The contest for the mayoralty is creating great interest. Mr Parr, who addressed a meeting of the -members of the Tramway Union today, was again subjected to frequent interruptions. Mr Parr explained the position of the City Council in regard to the Labour dispute, and despite more interruptions pioceeded and finished his remarks. The meeting closed with cheers for Mr Parr, and also for Mr his opponent. A LIVELY INTERRUPTION. AUCKLAND, April 17. The Mayor encountered, in his address to timber workers at Goldie's mill this morning, considerable opposition from a section who were not timber workers, but were known as belonging to the revolutionary section which is opposing Mr Parr very bitterly in this Mayoral con test. The Mayor had proceeded for about twenty minutes in his address, and was giving his version of the industrial issues before the community, apparently ■with some effect, when he was rudely interrupted by this disturbing section, who insisted that Mr Parr should at once stop his address in order that they might question him. Mr Parr: Gentlemen, surely you will give me a quarter of an hour in which to finish my speech, after which there will be ten minutes for questions, which I shall be pleased to answer! The interruptions still continued, notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Saunders, a member of the timber workers, wh<> was in the chair, to restore order. The Mayor, however, continued, amidst a fire of abusive interruptions. "I want to have my say," called one man. "The Mayor has had enough time," declared another.

Mr Parr had to cease for quite _ five minutes while the leader of the interrupting party denounced the Mayor and members of the City Council in unmeasured terms.

There was an orderly section of workers who protested and demanded a fair hearing from the Mayor, but- they were out-voiced by the noisy element. An appeal from some of those present for order drew from the chairman a remark that "Apparently the only way to keep order in such a mob was with a gun!"

Despite further interruptions Mr Parr steadfastly stood it out and finished his address, after which he announced that he was prepared to answer questions. At least a' dozen of the disturbing element jumped and the Mayor gave preference to a person who was apparently the leader, armed with a notebook, from which he proceeded to quote. He first asked, "Didn't you alter the whole of; Midgley Taylor's sceheme that you paid £ISOO for?" "No, sir,"' replied the Mayor. "But I know you did !" he shouted. Further questions were asked and an swered, the questioner declining to accept the Mayor's reply in each case. B;v this time the man had got down from his seat on a timber stack and had surrounded the Mayor with his mates. "Now," said he, using an objectionable epithet, "Answer-me this: Didn't you, on the Ist inst., float city loans and get personal brokerage?" "That is quite untrue !" indignantly replied the Mayor. "The loans are not yet floated, and the statement about brokerage is a lying invention. You have evidently come here to insult me !" The man now advanced to the Mayor, shaking his fist, and said, "But 1 know you did ! You made brokerag» for vourself out of the loans, and I know it!"

"There is only one reply for you, my friend," said the Mayor quietly, "ano I give it to you before all your mates. You are a liar!" "Oh, am I?" said the man. "Thank you!" "Well, vou got that straight enough anyway," was the unsympathetic obser vation of a timber worker in the audi ence.

The meeting was then brought to r termination, three cheers being given for ihe Mayor and three for his opponent The rowdvsection followed Mr Parr out

of the yards, the questioner aforesaid beinj* prominent in hnrling abuse at thr chief magistrate as he departed.